WHAT IS THE MELKITE GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH?
        Many people are surprised to learn that the Catholic Church is not a single church. It is more properly understood as being a family of various churches that are in communion with one another, united by a common faith. The largest and best known member of this family is, of course, the Roman Catholic Church. Yet there are many smaller sister churches that are equally Catholic and have their own ancient traditions, disciplines, and spirituality. The Melkite Church is such a church, and follows the liturgical and spiritual traditions of the Byzantine East. Her identity as a Greek Catholic Church is not connected with the ethnic background of her members, but is instead a description of her traditions and worship.         The Melkites are Catholics of the Middle East and they have a proud history. They were often glorious in defense of the faith and at the same time were frequently persecuted because of it. The story of the M
